Separator



20, 3 c. G. HAWLEY 1,981,549

SEPARATOR Y Filed Dec. 16, 1951 INVENTOR Patented Nov. 20, 1934 UNITED STATES SEPARATOR Charles Gi.lbert Hawley, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Centrifix Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a. corporation of Ohio Application December 16, 1931, Serial No. 581,457

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in line separators for inclusion in steam, air, gas and other pipes which conduct fluids which contain impurities (heavier substances) that should be separated or removed therefrom. And in particular, the invention relates to a separator which is adapted to operate successfully in pipe lines of the smaller sizes.

The object of the invention is to provide a separator of high efficiency, small size'and low cost, such as common usage demands.

The invention comprises a separator of the construction and operating advantages made clear by the drawing that forms part of this specification.

In said drawing-Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the novel separator;-Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof as it appears when its top is removed;--Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a plan View of the so-called whirl-promoting separator element or tuyre, in a slightly modified form;--and, Fig. 5 is a side view thereof.

The advantages of the separator here depicted will be apparent to everyone who is skilled in the art; for its construction is at once rugged and very simple. It is of the centrifugal type and of a form which ensures high efliciency. It possesses sufficient capacity to accommodate the impurities which reach it through the incoming pipe,

' whether in minor or excessive quantities. And in respect to the position which the separator is to occupy in pipe lines, it is both compact and of good appearance.

As depicted, this separator is made up of three main parts or elements, to-wit: the bowl portion 2, the top portion 3 and the whirl-promoting element or centrifugal tuyere 4. The device is completed by the annular packing 5 and the bolts 6, which latter fasten the parts together.

These separators are frequently subjected to high internal pressures, hence the illustrated thickness of the walls of the parts 2 and 3, and hence, also, the heavy lugs 7 and 8 employed upon the parts 2 and 3, and the heavy clamping bolts 6.

The circular portion 9 of the top telescopes into the circular seat or recess 10 and advantageously embraces the periphery 11 of the tuyere 4. Both the packing and the tuyre are secured in the positions shown when the top 3 is placed on the bowl and is made fast by means of the clamping bolts 6. The edge of the disc member 12 of the element 4 fits the recess and thus that member is also properly centered in the top of the bowl portion 2.

The tuyere or whirl-promoting element 4 comprises the circular disc 12, plus the depending and coaxial conical portion 13, those parts being fastened together'by a central weld or rivet 14. The disc contains a plurality of radial tuyere openings 15 which are formed by shearing the plate upon the U-shape lines 16 and by pressing down the integral sections 17. The tuyre openings 15 are all of the same direction and they are equally spaced around the center of the disc. In consequence any fluid passing forward through the tuyre openings is set into rapid rotation within the space 18 beneath the tuyere 4.

It should be understood that the fluid to be cleaned by the separator enters it through a threaded pipe hole A in the top portion 3 and departs from the separator through a like opening B in the bottom of the bowl.

By preference, the space 18 enlarges toward the bottom and at a level substantially including the bottom of the cone 13 merges with the collection space 19 which occupies the larger and lower part of the bowl 2. Rising centrally within the latter is a standpipe portion 20 containing a central duct 21 presenting the orifice 22 at its top, the latter being coaxial with the cone. A duct 21 leads to the outlet opening B. The top of the standpipe presents the flaring surface 23 and the flange 24, to which further reference willbe made.

It is now to be noted that a relatively wide space 25 is provided between the bottom or edge 13' of the cone and the top 20 of the standpipe. Further, it is to be noted that the cone is of much greater diameter than the orifice 22, directly above which it is positioned. Obviously, the presence of the cone helps to define the annular space 18, and with the flaring inner surface 2a of the bowl provides an annular passage, which upon leaving the underside of the tuyre 4 is directed downward and outward, into communication with the space 19.

A drain hole 26 is provided at the bottom of the bowl space 19. The opening 27 in the side of the bowl may be closed but usually receives a vent pipe leading from the trap or pocket with which the drain 26 is connected.

It will be noted that the tuyre openings 15, while radially disposed in the disc 12 are also directed outwardly, this being desirable as a means of better insuring the projection of impurities against the inner wall 2a of the bowl. However, such inclined disposition of the tuyere openings may be modified without materially lessening the efficiency of the separator; at least to the extent indicated by the parts marked 15a in Figs. 4 and 5 wherein the pressed tuyere form ing portions are truly radial.

It being assumed that a suitable trap has been connected with the threaded openings 26 and 2'7 and that the separator assembled as shown has con coupled into a pipe line, it may then be stated that the impure fluid entering the top chamber 3a immediately encounters the tuyere or whirl-promoting element 4. The fluid stream seeking escape is then sub-divided into the many smaller streams compelled by the many tangentially disposed tuyre openings or passages 15 and those streams being directed circularly, the fluid,

passing through the inclined openings 15, takeson a rapid rotative movement in the space 18. In consequence of such movement the heavier substances carried by the fluid are projected centrifugally against the surrounding wall 2a, and thence sink into the space or collection pocket 19, to be discharged through the drain 26.

' Meantime, the fluid being substantially freed from such impurities, continues to whirl in the space beneath the cone -13 and yet moving gen-v erally in the direction of the outlet orifice 22 such whirling motion completes the separation of the impurities. Any stray quantities which are temporarily deposited upon the under side of I the cone, form small masses at the lower edge 'ings and presenting respective downwardly in- Impurities deposited upon the top of the stand- "pipe are whirlingly discharged into the bowl from the use of such tuyeres under this invention is not limited to their association with separator bodies or casings of the specific type here shown. Havingthus described my invention I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The herein described whirl promoting element for centrifugal separators, comprising a thin metaldisk containing a circumferential series of radially extended slot-like tuyere openclined tuyre blade portions all having the same circumferential direction, in combination with a vortex defeating, hollow conical member having its small end rigidly attached to the under side on said; disk at the;,.center thereof, the large end of'said conical member being spaced from said under side and extending outward beneath the blade portions of the disk so that said conical member is positioned, to divert outwardly, fluid streamswhirling downward through said slotlike tuyres.

2.' The element as claimed in claim 1, in combination: with a separator casing having a fluid inlet in its upper part and a fluid outlet in its bottom portion and wherein said whirl promoting tuyere is intermediately lodged perpendicularly to the, axis of the casing, said casing presenting.

an outlet orifice coaxial with but longitudinally spaced from the free edge of said conical member.

. CHARLES GILBERT HAWLEY. 

